Research Methods

Question 1

6 marker on representativeness

Answer 1

If the sample size does not reflect social make up of population it is not representative

Positivists put great emphasis on the need for representative sample as they want to make broad general statements about society

Interpretivist‘s put less emphasis because they like to study small groups to identify greater meaning

The problems of this:
•They may not know characteristic of research population therefore cannot make generalisations and data is not representative

•They may find it hard to find people to fit the characteristics of what is being studied

Question 2

Strength of quantitative data

Answer 2

The strength of quantitive data is that we can be expressed through numerical form and can be converted into charts graphs and tables

This allows the researcher to identify correlations between patterns and trends. These correlations can be used to help uncover cause and affect relationships which can establish social facts

Question 3

Weakness of quantitative data

Answer 3

Quantitive data does not present the quality way of life of research subjects in the form of words like qualitative data does

Qualitative data provides rich in-depth information about peoples lives which quantitive data is unable to do

Question 4

What structured interviews?

Answer 4

It involves researcher reading out questions from an interview schedule and writing down the respondents answer

These interviews allows little flexibility as interviewer is not allowed to adapt/change questions.

the data is expressed in quantitative form

Question 5

Advantages of structured interviews

Answer 5

Positivists like this type of interview because it has scientific characteristics of reliability objectivity and quantifiability

Therefore if the research is carried out again and similar/same results are obtained data can be generalised and representative to the wider population

Question 6

Weakness of structured interviews

Answer 6

Interpretivist‘s would say that structured interviews allow bias to take place

For example interviewers me unconsciously lead to respondents into a particular biased response through their tone of voice facial expression or body language.

This therefore is lacks validity as for instance a researchers body language may persuade them into lying or exaggerating their response as you’re giving respondents little freedom into not allowing researcher to explain the question

Question 7

Questionnaires

Answer 7

There are two forms of questionnaires

Closed—

Question 8

Strengths of questionnaires

Answer 8

It is useful to research large number of people as they’re easy and cheap to design and therefore can be distributed geographically to different areas of the country or society that is trying to be studied

Positivists say that they have a theoretical advantage as well because well designed questionnaires will be high in reliability objectivity and there will be value free therefore data will be highly valid and representative to the rest of the population

Question 9

Weakness of questionnaires

Answer 9

Interpretivist would criticise questionnaires as they believe people interpret them in ways that undermine the validity of data they collect and some questions that are being asked may feel personal

This therefore causes respondents to answer less truthfully as they may feel threatened

Therefore Data obtained lacks validity and therefore cannot be generalised and be representative to the rest of the population

Question 10

Conclusion for 25 marker

Answer 10

Sending out lots of questionnaires gives researchers lots of info making it easy for them to generalise
Instead of interviewing individuals

However interviews may allow researcher to gain more understanding about a particular topic or the meanings and feelings of respondent as versthen may be attained